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USNS Colonel William J. O'Brien

(Redirected from MS Maiden's Eye)

USNS Colonel William J. O’Brien (T-AK-246) was a US Maritime Administration (MARCOM) C1-M-AV1 type coastal cargo ship, originally planned as an Alamosa-class cargo ship. Constructed as Maiden's Eye for the MARCOM, completed in August 1945 and placed in operation by the War Shipping Administration (WSA). After the war Maiden's Eye was transferred to the US Army and renamed USAT Colonel William J. O’Brien who kept her in service until transferred to the US Navy in 1950 for operation as USNS Colonel William J. O’Brien (T-AK-246) by the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) until 1973.

USNS Col. William J. O'Brien (T-AK-246) underway, date and location unknown.US Navy photo
USNS Colonel William J. O'Brien (T-AK-246), underway, date and location unknown.
History
United States
NameMaiden's Eye (never received name)
NamesakeMaiden's Eye (a type of knot)
Orderedas type (C1-M-AV1) hull, MC hull 2323[1]
BuilderConsolidated Steel Corporation, Long Beach, California
Yard number1228[1]
Laid down17 January 1945
Launched13 February 1945
Commissioneddelivered to War Shipping Administration (WSA) prior to commissioning, 10 April 1945
Identification
FateDelivered to the Army Transportation Service (ATS), 11 July 1946
History
United States
NameColonel William J. O’Brien
NamesakeLieutenant Colonel William J. O’Brien, awarded Medal of Honor
OperatorATS
Acquired11 July 1945
In service11 July 1945
Out of service1 March 1950
FateTransferred to the US Navy, 1 March 1950
History
United States
NameColonel William J. O’Brien
OperatorMSTS
Acquired1 March 1950
In service1 March 1950
Out of service1 September 1973
Stricken1 September 1973
IdentificationHull symbol: T-AK-246
FateSold for scrapping, 9 November 1973
General characteristics [2]
Class and typeAlamosa-class cargo ship
TypeC1-M-AV1
Tonnage5,032 long tons deadweight (DWT)[1]
Displacement
  • 2,382 long tons (2,420 t) (standard)
  • 7,450 long tons (7,570 t) (full load)
Length388 ft 8 in (118.47 m)
Beam50 ft (15 m)
Draft21 ft 1 in (6.43 m)
Installed power
Propulsion1 × propeller
Speed11.5 kn (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph)
Capacity
  • 3,945 t (3,883 long tons) DWT
  • 9,830 cu ft (278 m3) (refrigerated)
  • 227,730 cu ft (6,449 m3) (non-refrigerated)
Complement
  • 15 Officers
  • 70 Enlisted

Construction

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The ship was laid down as Maiden's Eye, one of the "Knot" ships named for a type of splice, on 17 January 1945 and launched, sponsored by Mrs. Thomas S. Middleton, on 13 February 1945 at Consolidated Steel Corporation, Long Beach, California, as a type (C1-M-AV1) under MARCOM contract, MC hull 2323.[3][2][4] She was acquired by the US War Shipping Administration (WSA) on 10 April 1945 with operation by Grace Line as WSA's agent.[3]

US military service

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On 11 July 1946, Maiden's Eye was assigned to the U.S. Army under bareboat charter for operation as USAT Colonel William J. O'Brien until transferred to the US Navy 1 March 1950.[3] The Army name was retained with the ship immediately transferred to the MSTS as USNS Colonel William J. O’Brien (T-AK-246) for permanent assignment.[5] USNS Colonel William J. O’Brien was stricken from the Navy List on 1 September 1973.[2]

Disposition

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Title was returned to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) on 9 November 1973 with sale to B. V. Intershitra of the Netherlands for $223,550 for scrapping.[6]

Notes

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Citations
  1. ^ a b c C1 Cargo Ships 2009.
  2. ^ a b c Navsource 2014.
  3. ^ a b c MARAD Maiden's Eye.
  4. ^ Long Beach Independent 1945.
  5. ^ DANFS 2015.
  6. ^ MARAD O'Brien.

Bibliography

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Online resources

  • "Colonel William J. O'Brien (T-AK-246)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2016.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • "C1 Cargo Ships". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 28 August 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  • "USNS Colonel William J. O'brien (AK-246)". Navsource.org. 14 February 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  • "MAIDEN'S EYE". United States Department of Transportation. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  • "COLONEL WILLIAM J. O'BRIEN". United States Department of Transportation. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  • Long Beach Independent (14 February 1945). "326 Foot Vessel Launched Sideways". Long Beach Independent, Long Beach, California. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
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  • Photo gallery of USS Colonel William J. O'brien (AK-246) at NavSource Naval History
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